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Friday, 17 March 2017

Why is Tahuna Torea important

Tahuna Torea has many differing explanations of its importance as a special place in the local community. It is a thriving, natural, breeding ground for all endemic birds and trees alike. It is a focal point of history for the Maori people, as it was used as a food gathering site and the neighbouring estuary was used as a way to move around going north and south in an ancient time period.

In 1972 Tahuna Torea wasn’t a nature reserve at all but it was a piece of land engulfed in gorse, weeds, long grass and bushes. Luckily for the reserve, volunteers saved it by cutting and cleaning up everywhere, and they turned it into a 24/7 nature walk where endemic and native trees such as the Cabbage tree, Titoki tree and also the Nyayo grow and thrive. Tahuna Torea also is a habitat for the special birds of New Zealand like the Shag, the Pukeko and also the Godwits.

Tahuna Torea wasn’t always covered in bushes and weeds it was once a food gathering site for the indigenous people of New Zealand, but known more commonly as the Maori. The Maori harvested shellfish like pipi’s, mussels, oysters, clams, cockles and much much more. Not only did they just get shellfish they also got a lot of crustaceans like crabs, prawns, lobster and others. Also, the Maori used the neighbouring estuary known as the Tamaki estuary to get around Auckland.

The Maori used the Tamaki estuary to get from the north east up at the Hauraki gulf all the way to Waitemata. The way that they did this was by sailing their waka down through the Hauraki gulf which led them to Waitemata. The main reason why they used this route was because of the bird's migration which is when the birds come to the southern hemisphere when it is the northern hemisphere’s winter and when it is the southern hemisphere's winter they go up to the northern hemisphere for the summer. The Maori followed the birds when they were migrating south, and as birds always take the shortest route the Maori people then knew that by using the Tamaki estuary to get from the Hauraki gulf to Waitemata was shortest and most efficient route. When the birds migrated again going up to the northern hemisphere the Maori would also go up north back to the Hauraki gulf.

Tahuna Torea is a special place in the Glen Innes area...it also is in walking distance by being just under 4km away. Is there a special place in your community? If so why is it special and what is the historical background of it?